Kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus for degreasing and deodorization

ABSTRACT

A kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus is provided. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus includes a main body having a receiving space therein, in which the main body includes an air inlet mounted on one end thereof and an air outlet mounted on the other end thereof. The air inlet, the receiving space, and the air outlet are configured to communicate with each other. The air inlet is set to allow an exhaust fume to enter the receiving space therethrough. A filter device and a sterilization device are mounted in the receiving space for degreasing, deodorizing, and purifying the fume. Thus, the gas expelled through the air outlet is a clean and non-polluting gas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is related to a kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus for degreasing and deodorization, and more particularly to a kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus for removing grease and odors in the exhaust fume by using activated carbon filters and UVC lamps.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Generally speaking, as people are cooking in a restaurant or in a kitchen, a large quantity of fume is generated. The grease contained in the fume is prone to accumulate on the wall or at the corners of the wall. The greasy contaminant tends to linger and is hard to clean up, which would in turn affect the environmental hygiene. Hence, the restaurant operator developed an oil and smoke cleaning equipment for removing the grease contained in the fume, so as to suppress the aforementioned drawbacks. An ordinary oil and smoke cleaning equipment is used to transfer the fume to a container containing an aqueous solution. After the fume enters the container containing the aqueous solution, a sprayer or a sprinkler is used to spray aqueous mist, such that the grease can be adhered to the aqueous mist and enters the aqueous solution to allow the grease to reside and float on the surface of the aqueous solution. The gas generated as a result of the degreasing process of the fume can be expelled through the container, thereby attaining the goal of degreasing.

Although such oil and smoke cleaning equipment is able to eliminate the grease contained in the fume, the odor included in the fume is not able to be removed. As a result, the user would have bad feelings. This is because the grease is retained in the container by a simple sprayer or sprinkler when the fume passes through the container, while the gas generated after the degreasing process is expelled out of the container without being filtered by any filter means. Hence, the gas expelled therefrom emanates smelly odor, which would cause discomfort to people as the cooking smells are pervaded in the ambient environment. Secondly, when the chef of the restaurant is cooking foodstuff with a heavy taste (e.g. garlic, ginger, onion, spice), the problem of smelly odor emanated from the foodstuff is worsened. This would significantly affect the practicability and valuableness of the conventional oil and smoke cleaning equipment. What is worse, this would inflict a huge aggravation to environmental and air pollutions, and would seriously demolish the air quality and cleanliness of the ambient environment.

In view of the problems encountered by the prior art, the inventors devise a novel kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus based on past experiences, devoted observations and researches, and employment of academic theories. The inventive kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus is designed to address the problems encountered by the prior art by using activated carbon filters and UVC lamps to deodorize and degrease the kitchen fume. The structure and operation of the inventive kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus will be illustrated as follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the deficiencies existed in the prior art, an object of the invention is to provide a kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus for degreasing and deodorization. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of the invention is based on a modification to the conventional oil and smoke cleaning equipment and is featured by the efficient deodorization and degreasing performance to the exhaust fume. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of the invention uses a filter device and a sterilization device to filter, deodorize, and sterilize the exhaust fume so as to generate a clean gas, which is in turn expelled through an air outlet. The results of practical demonstrations of the invention indicate that the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of the invention is applicable to range hoods used in a kitchen or a restaurant as a feasible and efficient deodorization and degreasing equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus for degreasing and deodorization. The inventive kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus not only is applicable to range hoods used in a kitchen or a restaurant, but is applicable to exhaust duct or blower. Hence, the applicability and practicability of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of the invention can be elevated.

To this end, the invention proposes a kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus for degreasing and deodorization, including a main body having a receiving space therein, in which one end of the main body includes an air inlet and the other end of the main body includes an air outlet, while the air inlet, the receiving space, and the air outlet are configured to communicate with each other. The air inlet is set to allow exhaust fume to enter the receiving space therethrough. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus further includes a filter device mounted in the receiving space, filtering off the grease in the exhaust fume and absorbing the odor of the exhaust fume. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus further includes a sterilization device mounted in the receiving space, deodorizing and purifying the exhaust fume. With the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of the invention, the exhaust fume is set to undergo the filtering process, the deodorization process, and the sterilization process so as to be purified to a clean gas, which is then expelled through the air outlet. Therefore, the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of the invention is able to meet the goal of deodorization and degreasing.

According to the main aspect of the embodiment of the invention, the filter device consists of one or plural pre-processing filters located adjacently to the air inlet and filtering the exhaust fume. Alternatively, the filter device further includes one or plural post-processing filters located adjacently to the air outlet and re-filtering the exhaust fume. Or otherwise, the filter device may include either a pre-processing filter or a post-processing filter. Under this condition, the sterilization device may be selectively disposed in front of the pre-processing filter or in the rear of the pre-processing filter, or selectively disposed in front of the post-processing filter or in the rear of the post-processing filter.

In addition, the pre-processing filter or the post-processing filter may include activated carbon material that covers a portion of the area of the filter. Furthermore, the pre-processing filter or the post-processing filter may be configured in a planar manner or in a curvy manner so as to increase the active area for the activated carbon to absorb the exhaust fume.

In one aspect of the invention, the sterilization device further includes one or plural UVC lamps for deodorizing and purifying the exhaust fume by ozone and UV light generated by the UVC lamp. The UVC lamp may be disposed horizontally or obliquely in the receiving space, and the sterilization power can be adjusted depending on the amount of the exhaust fume entering through the air inlet.

Now the foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be best understood through the following descriptions with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cubic view showing the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top view showing a modified version of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of FIGS. 9-10; and

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Several exemplary embodiments embodying the features and advantages of the invention will be expounded in following paragraphs of descriptions. It is to be realized that the present invention is allowed to have various modification in different respects, all of which are without departing from the scope of the present invention, and the description herein and the drawings are to be taken as illustrative in nature, but not to be taken as a confinement for the invention.

The invention is aimed to tackle with the problem of severe environmental and air pollutions as a result of the heavy odor emanated during the cooking of foodstuff in a restaurant. Thus, the invention is directed to an improvement for addressing these problems. The invention proposes a kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus for degreasing and deodorization. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus 100 of the invention is connected to a fume expeller 1 for receiving an exhaust fume 11 therefrom. In this embodiment, the fume expeller 1 may be a range hood or a hoods tube. In this manner, the exhaust fume 11 expelled from the fume expeller 1 can be filtered, deodorized, and sterilized by the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus 100 to generate a clean gas 21 after the degreasing and deodorization process are finished. The clean gas 21 is then expelled to the outside environment so as to reduce the likelihood of causing environmental and air pollutions.

FIG. 2 shows the cubic view of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus 100 includes a main body 200 having a receiving space 202 therein. One end of the main body 200 has an air inlet 204 and the other end of the main body 200 has an air outlet 206, in which the air inlet 204, the air outlet 206, and the receiving space 202 are configured to communicate with each other. The air inlet 204 is set to allow the exhaust fume 11 to enter the receiving space 202, and the surface wind speed of the exhaust fume at the air inlet 204 is slightly below 3 m/s.

A sterilization device 300 is mounted in the receiving space 202, deodorizes and purifies the exhaust fume 11. Besides, a filter device is further mounted in the receiving space 202, filters off the grease in the exhaust fume 11 and absorbs the smell of the exhaust fume 11. In this embodiment, the filter device may include a pre-processing filter 401 and a post-processing filter 402. The pre-processing filter 401 is located adjacently to the air inlet 204 and performs the first filtering operation to the exhaust fume 11. The post-processing filter 401 is located adjacently to the air outlet 206 and performs a second filtering operation to the exhaust fume 11. It is to be noted that the number of the pre-processing filter 401 and the number of the post-processing filter 402 are not limited to one. In other words, a plurality of pre-processing filters 401 and a plurality of post-processing filters 402 may be mounted in the receiving space 202 for enhancing the degreasing efficiency by the increment of the number of filters.

On the other hand, if the amount of exhaust fume is below the capacity of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus, the pre-processing filter 401 and the post-processing filter 402 can be alternatively mounted, so as to downsize the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus and reduce the manufacturing cost of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus. Such configuration still can fulfill the object of the invention without conceding the utility of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus. Here, the invention is described with reference to FIG. 2, in which a pre-processing filter 401 and a post-processing filter 401 are both mounted. However, the scope of the invention should not be limited to the precise form disclosed in FIG. 2.

The sterilization device 300 includes at least one UVC lamp 301. The configuration of the UVC lamp 301 can be understood with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, which are respectively the side view and top view of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the number of the UVC lamp 301 can be one or plural, and the UVC lamp 301 combines the function of ultraviolet light and ozone generated by ultraviolet light so as to attain the goal of deodorization and sterilization. The shape of the UVC lamp 301 may be U-shaped, and the UVC lamp 301 may be horizontally placed in the receiving space and perform the deodorization and purification process to the exhaust fume. It is to be noted that the ozone generated by ultraviolet light is different in nature from the ozone generated by ozonier. The ozone generated by ultraviolet light according to the invention consists of pure ozone that would not produce nitrogen which is detrimental to human beings. Hence, the quality of the UVC lamp 301 of the invention is not inferior to the professional air sterilizer/deodorizer machine. On the other hand, the UVC lamp 301 is capable of eliminating the kitchen fume, stinky odor, and moldy odor by ozone and ultraviolet light. The UVC lamp 301 of the invention can be used in kitchens or restaurants to accomplish the deodorization and purification process. The number of the UVC lamp 301 is adaptable depending on practical needs, such that the number of the UVC lamp 301 can be one or plural. Besides, the operating power of the UVC lamp 301 during the sterilization operation is adaptable depending on the amount of the exhaust fume entering through the air inlet (for example, by adjusting the length of the UVC lamp or by carefully selecting the waveband of the ultraviolet light). The invention can provide robust sterilization capability as well as excellent hygienic and safe environment.

Furthermore, as to the selection of the material of the filter device, the pre-processing filter 401 and the post-processing filter 402 may include activated carbon material, as shown by the dotted patterns in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The activated carbon is used to absorb the odor and grease in the exhaust fume. To prevent the filter from being clogged to the demote the filtering effects due to excessive activated carbon, the activated carbon of the invention covers only a portion of the area of the filter. For example, the activated carbon covers 80% of the area of the filter. Moreover, the pre-processing filter 401 and the post-processing filter 402 may be configured in a planar or curvy manner. If the filter is configured in a curvy manner, the active area of the activated carbon for absorbing odor and grease in the exhaust fume passing through the filter can be significantly enlarged, thereby enhancing the deodorization and degreasing efficiency. For example, the post-processing filter 402 is configured in a curvy manner in the embodiment of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In practice, artisans skilled in the related art may configure the pre-processing filter 401 and/or the post-processing filter 402 in a planar manner. However, both configurations should fall into the scope of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the cubic view and side view of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention are shown. Unlike the foregoing embodiment (FIG. 2 to FIG. 4), in this embodiment the air inlet 204 and the air outlet 206 are disposed at different locations on the main body 200 of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus. In the foregoing embodiment, the air inlet 204 and the air outlet 206 are respectively disposed at the left side and the right side of the main body 200, such that the exhaust fume 11 flows from left to right. However, in this embodiment the air inlet 204 and the air outlet 206 are respectively disposed at the left side and the top surface of the main body 200. Under this condition, the exhaust fume flows from left to right, and then flows from right to the top, and then flow out of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus through the air outlet 206. Likewise, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the air inlet 204 and the air outlet 206 are respectively disposed at the right side and the top surface of the main body 200 of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus. Under this condition, the exhaust fume 11 flows into the main body 200 through the right side of the main body, and then sequentially flows through the pre-processing filter 401, the UVC lamp 301, and the post-processing filter 402 for being filtered and sterilized and then flows to the left side of the main body 200, and finally flows to the top of the main body 200 and flows out of the main body 200 through the air outlet 206.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the invention. Likewise, the position of the air inlet 204 and the position of the air outlet 206 on the main body 200 are different from the foregoing embodiment. Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, in this embodiment the air inlet 204 and the air outlet 206 are respectively mounted on the top surface and the left side of the main body 200. Under this condition, the exhaust fume 11 first flows into the top of the main body 200 and then passes through the pre-processing filter 401, the UVC lamp 301, and the post-processing filter 402 for filtering and sterilization, and then flows to the left side of the main body 200, and finally flows out of the main body 200 through the air outlet 206 on the left side of the main body 200. Thus, it is obvious that positions of the air inlet and the air outlet on the main body are adaptable. Artisans skilled in the related art should be able to alter the positions of the air inlet and the air outlet on the main body and the flow direction of the exhaust fume depending on practical needs. Nonetheless, various modifications that are made based on the spirit of the invention should not be departed from the scope of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, a modified version of the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of FIGS. 9-10 is shown. In FIG. 11, the UVC lamp 301 is obliquely disposed in the receiving space 202 by a certain angle. Also, the UVC lamp 301 may be disposed vertically or horizontally in the receiving space 202 so as to emanate ultraviolet lights to decompose the grease and sterilize the exhaust fume. Furthermore,

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. Unlike the foregoing embodiment, the exhaust fume 11 entering through the air inlet 204 is first sterilized by the UVC lamp 301, and then filtered and degreased by the pre-processing filter 401 and the post-processing filter 402. In other words, the sequence of the positions of the pre-processing filter 401, the post-processing filter 402, and the UVC lamp 301 should be adaptable instead of being limited to a precise form. For example, the UVC lamp 301 may be selectively disposed in front of or in the rear of the pre-processing filter 401. Or otherwise, the UVC lamp 301 may be selectively disposed in front of or in the rear of post-processing filter 402. What is more, in case that only one of the pre-processing filter 401 and the post-processing filter 402 is mounted (for example, only the UVC lamp 301 and the pre-processing filter 401 are mounted), the position of the UVC lamp 301 and the filter can be adapted depending on practical needs. Artisans skilled in the related art should be able to alter the positions of the filter and the UVC lamp depending on practical needs. Nonetheless, various modifications that are made based on the spirit of the invention should not be departed from the scope of the invention.

In conclusion, the invention provides a kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus, which includes a filter device and a sterilization device for filtering, deodorizing, and sterilizing an exhaust fume to generate a clean gas which is expelled through an air outlet. In the foregoing embodiments of the invention, the sterilization device may include an UVC lamp that is able to simultaneously degrease and deodorize the exhaust fume by ozone and ultraviolet lights. The rated power of the UVC lamp can be adjusted depending on practical needs. The filter device may include filters consisting of an activated carbon material for absorbing the odor and grease in the exhaust fume by activated carbon when the exhaust fume passes through the filter. The invention is thus advantageous in terms of efficient degreasing and deodorization capability, ensured environmental cleanliness, and promoted versatility of the product. Compared to the prior art, the kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus of the invention is more cost-effective and productive, and possesses tremendous developmental potential and prevalence.

While the invention has been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention need not be restricted to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. Therefore, the above description and illustration should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus for degreasing and deodorization, comprising: a main body having a receiving space therein, and two ends of the main body respectively have an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet, the receiving space, and the air outlet are configured to communicate with each other, and the air inlet is set to allow an exhaust fume to enter the receiving space therethrough; a filter device mounted in the receiving space, filtering off grease in the exhaust fume and absorbing an odor of the exhaust fume; and a sterilization device mounted in the receiving space, deodorizing and purifying the exhaust fume.
 2. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filter device further includes at least one pre-processing filter located adjacently to the air inlet and filtering the exhaust fume.
 3. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the filter device further includes at least one post-processing filter located adjacently to the air outlet and filtering the exhaust fume.
 4. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sterilization device is mounted in front of or in the rear of the at least one pre-processing filter.
 5. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sterilization device is mounted in front of or in the rear of the at least one post-processing filter.
 6. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one pre-processing filter includes an activated carbon material.
 7. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one pre-processing filter is configured in a planar or curvy manner.
 8. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the activated carbon material covers a portion of an area of the at least one pre-processing filter.
 9. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one post-processing filter includes an activated carbon material.
 10. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one post-processing filter is configured in a planar or curvy manner.
 11. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the activated carbon material covers a portion of an area of the at least one poste-processing filter.
 12. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization device includes at least one UVC lamp for deodorizing and purifying the exhaust fume by ozone and ultraviolet lights.
 13. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the UVC lamp is a U-shaped lamp.
 14. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the UVC lamp is disposed horizontally or obliquely in the receiving space.
 15. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 12, wherein an operating power of the UVC lamp depends on an amount of the exhaust fume entering through the air inlet.
 16. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a surface wind speed of the exhaust fume at the air inlet is below 3 m/s.
 17. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body is connected to a fume expeller.
 18. The kitchen fume-cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filter device further includes at least one post-processing filter located adjacently to the air outlet and filtering the exhaust fume. 